O.C. Bands on Surf Collection, Sure as Waves Pound the Shore

Surf bands from Orange County are responsible for 15 tracks on “Cowabunga! The Surf Box,” slightly more than 18% of the new, four-CD, 82-song collection from Rhino Records.

Dick Dale & the Del-Tones (and Dale on his own, in his ‘90s recording incarnation) account for five tracks, the most of any single act in the box. The Chantays have two--the immortal “Pipeline” and “Killer Dana” from their ’94 comeback album, “Next Set.”

Other ‘60s O.C. bands accounted for are the Surfmen, the Lively Ones, the Rhythm Rockers, the Centurians, the Blazers, the Original Surfaris (not to be confused with the just-plain Surfaris of “Wipe Out” fame), Dave Myers & the Surftones and the Chevelles.

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“White Light, White Heat, White Trash” is the tentative title of Social Distortion’s long-aborning next album, which is in the final mixing stage and could be out in August. SD’s next show in the area will be July 7 at the Hootenanny ’96 festival at Oak Canyon Ranch. The band’s revolving drum chair will be occupied for the gig by Chuck Biscuits, a veteran punk musician who most recently played in Danzig.

Derek O’Brien, the drummer on Social Distortion’s earliest recordings, finds himself in a new band with a buzz--L.A.’s Extra Fancy, which has just released its Atlantic Records debut, “Sinnerman.”

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Some of the area’s song-oriented noise merchants will quiet down for a change June 28 when Linda’s Doll Hut in Anaheim presents an “unplugged night.” The program will feature members of Joyride, One Hit Wonder, the Ziggens, Hellbound Hayride and Social Distortion-offshoot Fuel, plus others to be named, along with possible surprise guests.

Joyride’s Steve Soto is promising a dip into material from “Balboa Fun Zone,” the underappreciated Adolescents album that marked his coming of age as a singer and songwriter.

Soto’s new band, Twenty Two Jacks, has landed some dates on the upcoming Warped Tour--a bigger break than the defunct Joyride ever caught. Fronted by Joe Sib, former singer with Wax, the unsigned band will debut in July with an album of sharp, catchy punk-pop.

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“Dead on the Wall,” an exhibit of Grateful Dead-inspired artwork and memorabilia, will run June 29 through Sept. 1 at the Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 Main St.

Contents include videos, paintings, handcrafts, clothing and photographs culled from fans’ private collections. Also on display will be the “Jerry Garcia Memorial Curtain.” Created by a Grateful Dead tribute band, Suns of the Dead, it consists of eight tie-dyed canvas panels that fans can sign.

Opening night festivities will include a performance by Suns of the Dead and a parking lot rally of colorfully painted Deadhead vehicles.

Organizing the exhibit is guest curator Chris Cole, who also promotes the art center’s periodic “Playing in the Band” series of concerts by grass-roots local rockers.

Cole, 24, says he saw 42 Grateful Dead concerts between 1988 and 1995. He solicited much of the artwork and memorabilia for the exhibit by “going to Deadhead hangouts where tribute bands play” and seeking fans’ contributions. (714) 374-1655.

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Drummer Jimi Bott, a veteran of Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers and various local blues recording sessions, has joined the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Bott, who lives in the San Jose area, replaces longtime member Fran Christina. His arrival completes the T-Birds’ make-over from a Texas band to a primarily California lineup: Leader Kim Wilson recently moved from Austin to Laguna Niguel, and guitarist David “Kid” Ramos, of Anaheim, is a longtime staple of the Southland roots-music scene. Bassist Willie J. Campbell lives in Missouri, and keyboard player Gene Taylor remains in Austin, but both played for years on the Southern California circuit.

The Thunderbirds will play major venues this summer as part of the House of Blues-sponsored Barn Burner tour, which also features Buddy Guy and Joe Cocker. Area dates are Aug. 3-4 at the Universal Amphitheatre and Aug. 6 at the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion.